Event Details
'Paz Justicia Libertad / Peace Justice Freedom', Anonymous. (Photo: Martin Melaugh) |
| Exhibition: | Chilean Arpilleras |
| Description: | This exhibition was organised by the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the military coup in Chile. After the military coup in 1973, which marked the start of the repressive Pinochet regime, the Association of Relatives of the Disappeared in Chile began to make arpilleras. They were handcrafted, using scraps of materials collected by women or donated by the churches in Chile.
They were also made by women political prisoners, either while inside prisons or when released. In dark basements and other secret meeting rooms in churches, NGOs and other solidarity places, mothers, wives, lovers, friends, daughters and sisters began to design and sew together in order to capture their common tales of torture, of pain and love and save them from oblivion. Part of the church and a network of solidarity people smuggled arpilleras out of Chile and so the world came to know more about the oppressive, unjust and bloody life under the dictatorship. They were often bought as a way to support the struggle, including some of the ones you see in this display.
This exhibition was originally displayed in the Harbour museum, Derry/Londonderry, February-April 2008. |
| Commissioned by: | Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal |
| Date(s): | 11th September 2008 - 11th October 2008 |
| Venue: | Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Cove Hill, Port Road,Letterkenny, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland |
| Curator: | Roberta Bacic |
| Facilitator: | Regional Cultural Centre |
| Outcome: | This exhibition introduced the world of arpilleras to Donegal. It marked the beginning of a rich connection between Roberta Bacic, the Letterkenny Amnesty group and other local groups and organisations. This has led to several collaborative ventures. |
| Documents: |
• Exhibition invitation, Sept 2008 - view
• Press Release, Sept 2008 - view
• Web page notice, Sept 2008 - view
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